Raytheon, Airbus to develop Multi Role Tanker Transport

June 15th, 1999

Raytheon Company and Airbus Industrie have signed an exclusive agreement to co-operate in the development of the air refuelling version of the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), to be based on the Airbus A310-300 aircraft, and to pursue jointly MRTT sales. The air-refuelling version will be a new derivative of the existing A310 freighter/passenger combination aircraft.

Germany has already decided to convert four ex-Lufthansa A310s and France and Canada have looked at the MRTT option. The UK has said it needs 20 to 30 tanker/transport aircraft to replace its ageing VC-10 and Tristar fleet.

This co-operative effort by Raytheon and Airbus Industrie follows their recently completed proposal to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to provide the Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system installed on an Airbus 310. In addition, a similar proposal has been submitted to the Turkish government.

According to the MRTT agreement, Raytheon's Aircraft Integration Systems (AIS) segment, which is leading Raytheon's Australian and Turkish efforts, will become the Design Authority for the airborne refuelling tanker version of the MRTT. AIS will develop the modification, obtain certification of the aircraft modification, and either provide modification services or provide customers with modification kits and instructions for installation.

"The agreement to participate in further development of the A310 was facilitated by the excellent working relationship established during the programme pursuit of the Australian Wedgetail and Turkish AEW&C requirements,'' said Glenn Hood, senior vice president and general manager of AIS.

The Airbus 310 tanker, as modified by Raytheon, will carry more than 170,000 pounds of fuel, with a range in excess of 5,000 miles. The three-man flight crew will include two pilots and an air refuelling system operator. The tanker will be capable of refuelling aircraft from wing mounted prove and drogue refuelling pods, from an aft centerline Hose Drum Unit (HDU), or from a flying boom refuelling system.

The Airbus/Raytheon team expects to enter the market with the first tanker version very early in 2000. Raytheon has already developed an Aeromedical Evacuation System, which can be applied to the MRTT to expand the flexibility of the MRTT further.

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